Trade Fair Fashion Exposed offers 12 young designers the chance to showcase their wares to some of the industry’s key decision makers. Erin O’Loughlin profiles some of those who made the cut in 2010.
Jolet After spending the early years of her career designing prints for established fashion companies, Jolet Ucchino now has a fondness for monochromatic colour palettes. Currently designing for herself after founding her self titled label in 2008, Ucchino has utilised a smattering of dark block colours in her spring/summer 2010/11 collection. While the colour palette may be pared back, the Victorian designer confesses she enjoyed the opportunity to flex her creative muscles and venture into couture inspired designs for the first time. The collection is inspired by architectural elements and combines both structured tailoring and loose draping, with fabrics including cotton, wool, chiffon and organza. Price points range from $150 to $800.
Satu After completing a four-year degree at RMIT University, Kerr founded her womenswear label Satu in 2008. Since its beginnings, Kerr has gained nine stockists, lost the concern about ‘fitting in’ to the fashion scene and learned what sells well for her, namely jersey. Now Kerr has put that knowledge to use in her latest collection inspired by Indian deities and mythology, Shakti’s Dream. The 30 pieces in the collection have been produced in colours spanning fuchsia, teal, regal blue, platinum grey, black and white. Jersey features heavily and Kerr readily admits to steering clear of current trends. Her designs are for women craving “a flattering silhouette and a thoughtful fit”, Kerr says. Sizes are eight to 14 and prices range from $69 to $249.
e’senk Elissa Brunato’s interest in fashion and design was piqued long before she had to choose a career path. The designer grew up watching her mother sew and has always had a fondness for drawing and sitting at the sewing machine. Now a fashion graduate of the Canberra Institute of Technology and a veteran volunteer for Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, Brunato will launch her label’s debut collection at Fashion Exposed. Linen pants, a lightweight jacket and a variety of skirts, tops and dresses make up Brunato’s Mind’s Eye collection, constructed in fabrics including silk organza, silk chiffon and silk georgette. The dominance of silk is no accident, with Brunato heavily interested in degumming and other forms of textile development. The generous use of hand-dyed silks and other natural fibres lends the collection a layered and billowy feel. Prices from $100.
Danielle Margaret There hasn’t been much time for Danielle Hewitt to draw breath since the 24-year-old completed her Bachelor of Fashion Design in 2009. After finishing off the design and construction of six bridesmaid dresses and one luxurious bridal gown for a friend’s December wedding, Hewitt has been applying the finishing touches to her label’s debut collection, Aphrodite. Highlights of the womenswear range include vibrant yellow fabrics and hand applique detailing. Hewitt’s fabric choices lend the collection an air of luxury, with heavy use of silk satins, silk chiffons, silk cottons and polyester tulle. Designed for affluent women aged 28 to 40, garments include maxi dresses, a corseted short dress and a strapless shift dress. Sizes range from six to 12 and price points from $800 to $1600.
Kiri After-five wear is the focus of Kiri Davis’s latest collection, a new move for the 23-year-old designer with a prior penchant for designing streetwear. The Canberra Institute of Technology graduate went to all lengths to research her latest designs, even consulting a leather craftsman for advice and guidance on how to best work with the material. The results include a number of eye-catching dresses, tops and trousers. Keen to play with contrasts, the Urban Warrior collection also features leather alongside chiffon and one other unusual material: metal washers. Sizes for the womenswear range are eight to 12 and price points are from $209 to $1050.
Eve of Adam Lauren Hung is not one to shy away from challenges. The Sydney-born 20-year-old confesses she decided to move to Perth for her tertiary studies in order “to experience life outside my comfort zone”. Now in her second year of study at Curtin University of Technology, Hung is just as keen to challenge what she sees as the dominance of raunch culture in young people’s lives. Hung’s label Eve of Adam is for young women in their late teens and twenties, with a focus on comfort, confidence and playfulness. Keen to capture a feeling of innocence and freedom, Hung’s designs are all ‘one size’. Natural fibre dresses and camisoles dominate the collection and the colour palette spans white to apricot, blush pink and marle grey. Hung’s dream, she reveals, is to make Eve of Adam wearers feel beautiful. Prices from $100.
Laura C Black is back – if not on the international catwalk, certainly in the designs by 21-year-old Laura McCormack. The Canberra-based designer has used solely black fabrics in her debut collection called Cadence, although varying opacities, textures and fabrics ranging from leather through to chiffon ensure the collection is anything but bland. McCormack’s background in dance and her work as a ballet teacher also bring something truly special to her designs, with her focus on creating garments that move and interact with the body. The five looks McCormack will showcase at Fashion Exposed have not been designed with shrinking violets in mind: “The label is for women that want powerful clothes,” McCormack says. Available in sizes eight to 12, price points start at $200.
Voyageur Erin Grant was on the Metro in Paris when she spotted the word ‘voyageur’ on a passing sign. With its French spelling in tact, the word soon became the title of this designer’s travel-inspired label. From Russia With Love is Grant’s debut collection and aims to provide comfortable yet stylish garments for those hitting the road. Fabrics include cotton and cotton blends as well as some travel-hardy synthetic blends. The colour palette spans white, light greys, antique blues and black, and garments include a hand-dyed silk crepe maxi dress and a skirt with passport-size hidden pockets. Sizes are from eight to 14 and prices start at $19.
